Crestview first grade teacher, Saundra Wimberley said that each day of the week her students learned different parts by following along with the pirate hunt unit.

“Crestview first graders have been on a secret, wind-swept voyage. After creating maps of the school and neighborhood and studying bodies of water, pirate fortune landed at just the right time,” Wimberly explained. “Each class got a mysterious call on the first day that started them on a quest for map pieces and clues left by the great-great-great-great-great grandson of a famous pirate who once traveled through our area.”

Wimberley said on the first day, they went looking for the sign of the pirate, and found a flag flying on the flagpole. Along with this first clue, the students got their first map piece.

“Each day they found a map piece and the next set of clues under the sign of the pirate. Day two it was down low where you might find a duck or a toy boat,” Wimberley explained.

On the second day, Wimberley said the students went searching for the second clue and map piece and found it on the edge of the pit near the playground.  At this point, they were beginning to understand the map a little clearer.

Wimberley said on the third day, the students were given the clue that they would help them locate the next map piece.

“We then went on to a place where ‘People’ find money dear,” Wimberley said. She said the third map piece and clue were located across the street, in the People’s Bank parking lot. After capturing the third clue, Wimberley said students continued to assemble the map. The class also made telescopes to help them see the next clue.

On the fourth day, Wimberley said the students were instructed to find the final map piece and clue where they might find a good read. Students located them in the library.

Finally, on the fifth and final day of the lesson, Wimberley said students dressed like pirates to finish playing the part.

“They followed their maps and clues with precision, learning cardinal directions and how to focus on important information,” Wimberley said. “With small shovels, garden tools, and even a few of their moms’ big spoons, they shoveled those treasure boxes right out of the ground.”

Wimberley said the students read stories throughout the week about pirates, told pirate jokes, sang sea chanties, and completed fun sea voyage writing exercises.

“The kids also said ‘Argggh!’ about a thousand times,” Wimberley said. “What a glorious end to a week-long hunt, and nobody even had to walk the plank!”